July 2023 Summary – The Hottest in Global Records. Port Alberni did its part.

The rising floor of July minimums

July Rainfall in Port Alberni since 1900 as of 2023 - Continuing a low trend.

July Rainfall in Port Alberni since 1900 as of 2023 - Continuing a low trend.

Alberniweather and Port Alberni Summary for July 2023

Story of the Month - Continuing the Drought

The drought that started in May continued this month and with it warmer than normal temperatures though not as extreme as May and June. We set only a few records at the Airport at the start of the month. The only day of significant rain, July 24th, set a record for that day at the Airport but on the whole the month recorded just 20% of the normal rainfall for the month.

July stands out as one of the months with the clearest changes in our climate. As you’ll see in the graphs below, rainfall totals have declined generally since the 1930s and have taken a new step downward since around 2010.

While there is not a clear pattern in maximum temperatures, the minimum temperatures, both the extremes and averages, have steadily raised the floor of July temperatures. This will contribute to the drought, fire and animal and human stress.

One note on the data from today. The Robertson Creek station only reported data for half of the month so the values in the graphs (in orange) will not be accurate. I am hopeful that at some point they will update and fill in the data.

While this was not the hottest July on record in Port Alberni, it was the hottest on record for the globe with an average global temperature of  16.85ºC.This is around 1ºC higher than the normal.

Our average official temperatures in Port Alberni at the Airport were 1.2ºC above normal. So we contributed to making that global average higher.

We can expect the heat and dry to continue through August. 

Check out all the stats and graphs below.

Airport Daily Records Set this Month

Set at Airport* since 1994 and compared to Valley stations** for all time.
(since 1895 for rain, 1900 for temperatures, 1980 for snow on ground)

We set a few heat records early in the month as the June heatwave stretched into July. Our first significant rainfall since May and set a new daily record at the Airport for rain measured.

Note: Updated September 5.  The data from Robertson Creek did not fill in until later in the month. A new all time record was set for rainfall on July 24.

 

This Month's Graphs from Historic Alberni Valley Weather Stations

Combining Environment Canada and other Personal Weather Stations

Latest values on the far right, click to enlarge/download.

July Maximum Monthly Temperatures in Port Alberni since 1900 as of 2023 - Slightly above average.
July Maximum Monthly Temperatures in Port Alberni since 1900 as of 2023 - Slightly above average.
July Minimum Monthly Temperatures in Port Alberni since 1900 as of 2023 - Above average.
July Minimum Monthly Temperatures in Port Alberni since 1900 as of 2023 - Above average.
July Rainfall in Port Alberni since 1900 as of 2023 - Continuing a low trend.
July Rainfall in Port Alberni since 1900 as of 2023 - Continuing a low trend.
July Mean Temperatures in Port Alberni since 1900 as of 2023 - Above average.
July Mean Temperatures in Port Alberni since 1900 as of 2023 - Above average.
July Average Maximum Temperatures in Port Alberni since 1900 as of 2023 - Above Average
July Average Maximum Temperatures in Port Alberni since 1900 as of 2023 - Above Average
July Average Minimum Temperatures in Port Alberni since 1900 as of 2023 - Continuing the Rising Floor.
July Average Minimum Temperatures in Port Alberni since 1900 as of 2023 - Continuing the Rising Floor.

City Values Compared to Normal

Please shift your phone to landscape/horizontal to see the table.

  Extreme (ºC) Average (ºC) (mm) Wind (kph)
Location Max Min Min Mean Max Rain Dir Speed Day
Alberniweather 34.3 10.8 13.3 19.8 27.2 7.4 SSE 53.1 10
Alberni Elem NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Maquinna Elem NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Dave’s (Uptown) 36.0 10.6 13.2 20.1 28.2 9.4 NA 20.9 20
Nick’s (South Port) 33.3 10.2 13.0 19.5 26.8 5.6 NA 12.9 29
Kitsuksis (North Port) 35.3 9.1 12.2 19.2 27.3 13.2 NA 25.4 20
 
  Extreme (ºC) Average (ºC) Average (mm) Ext. Wind (kph)
  Max Min Min Mean Max Rain Dir Speed Day
Combined City 36.0 9.1 12.9 19.7 27.4 8.9  SE  53.1 10 
July Normal
(Somass)
1971-2000
    10.3 17.3 24.2 27.1      
Difference from Normal     +2.6 +2.4 +3.2 -18.2
(33%)
     

Extreme Day

36.1 2.2       37.3   48  
  Max Min Min Mean Max Rain (mm) Dir Speed Day
  Extreme (ºC) Average (ºC)   Wind (kph)
 
Days of Rain >=0.2 mm >=5 mm >=10 mm >=25 mm
Normal 7.0 1.8 0.54 0.13
This Month
(Alberniweather)
2 1 0 0

Official Airport and Robertson Creek Environment Canada Stations Compared to Normal

Please shift your phone to landscape/horizontal to see the table.

  Extreme (ºC) Average (ºC) (mm) Wind (kph)
Location Max Min Min Mean Max Precip Dir Speed Day

Port Alberni Airport

34.5 6.5 10.3 19.1 27.8 11.8 SE 38 01

Robertson Creek

35.5 7.0 10.6 19.8 28.8 13 NA    
 
July Normal
(Robertson Creek)
1971-2000
    10.4 17.9 25.4 59.6      
Difference from Normal
(from Airport)
    -0.1 +1.2 +2.4 -47.8
(19.8%)
     

Extreme Day

39.4 3.3       33.3   NA  
  Max Min Min Mean Max Rain (mm) Dir Speed Day
 *New Extreme for Month        
 
Days of Precipitation >=0.2 mm >=5 mm >=10 mm >=25 mm
Normal 8.2 2.0 0.90 0.21
This Month
(Airport)
2 1 0 0

* May have used backup Environment Canada Data source at WeatherStats.ca for Missing Data

** Short Term means since 1994 at the new AVRA Airport. Airport Records are compared to the 30+ year weather stations of record since 1900 (1895 for rain) at Beaver Creek, Port Alberni “City” and Robertson Creek.  Note that records pre 1950 may be more likely to over-estimate high temperatures.


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